1. Prevention of mother-to-child transmission of syphilis and HIV in China: What drives political prioritization and what can this tell us about promoting dual elimination?
- Author
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Kent Buse, Sarah Hawkes, and Dadong Wu
- Subjects
Adult ,Economic growth ,China ,media_common.quotation_subject ,Developing country ,HIV Infections ,Neglect ,Technical support ,Pregnancy ,National Policy ,Medicine ,Humans ,Syphilis ,Disease Eradication ,Pregnancy Complications, Infectious ,Health policy ,media_common ,business.industry ,Mother-to-child transmission ,Health Priorities ,Health Policy ,Infant, Newborn ,Obstetrics and Gynecology ,HIV ,General Medicine ,Policy analysis ,medicine.disease ,Infectious Disease Transmission, Vertical ,Accountability ,Immunology ,Female ,Policy and Practice ,business ,Agenda-setting - Abstract
Objective The present study aims to identify reasons behind the lower political priority of mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of syphilis compared with HIV, despite the former presenting a much larger and growing burden than the latter, in China, over the 20 years prior to 2010. Methods We undertook a comparative policy analysis, based on informant interviews and documentation review of control of MTCT of syphilis and HIV, as well as nonparticipant observation of relevant meetings/trainings to investigate agenda-setting prior to 2010. Results We identified several factors contributing to the lower priority accorded to MTCT of syphilis: relative neglect at a global level, dearth of international financial and technical support, poorly unified national policy community with weak accountability mechanisms, insufficient understanding of the epidemic and policy options, and a prevailing negative framing of syphilis that resulted in significant stigmatization. Conclusion A dual elimination goal will only be reached when prioritization of MTCT of syphilis is enhanced in both the international and national agendas.
- Published
- 2015